Chapter 99: New Homes and the Tremor
While the soldiers were locked in a fierce battle at the construction site, Jaejeong and Youngman were helping Anna assign residences to the survivors.
Of course, they started with the areas the soldiers had already cleared.
"Finally... finally, am I getting a place of my own?"
"Does the water work here?"
"I'm really living here all by myself? For real?"
"If it gets bigger later, we won't have to move again, right?"
"What happens when more people come in?"
These were people who had lived like animals in the boundary zone for months.
They'd had to settle for bathing in washbasins or swimming in the river.
Now that they each had their own private space, their joy was overshadowed by worry.
A few were assigned offices or shops instead of houses, but no one complained.
They seemed grateful even for that much.
"That about wraps it up, right?"
Anna said, turning after the final assignment.
Up ahead, Jaejeong and Hyun-soo were reviewing personal info sheets from Park Yi-hyun-seok and nodded.
"Yeah, that was the last one."
"Seeing everyone so happy makes it feel like we've done some real good."
Youngman looked satisfied too.
"But, oppa. With the zone expanding like this, how's food gonna work now?"
"Starting tomorrow, meals at the school cafeteria. Two lunch shifts, two dinner shifts."
"They got enough food for that?"
Anna muttered, glancing toward the production zone.
The answer came from an unexpected direction.
"Yes, we do."
All four turned around at once.
Park Yi-hyun-seok approached with a relaxed expression, as if he'd been there the whole time.
"Ah... okay."
Anna, who didn't care much for the doctor, made no effort to hide her discomfort.
But Park Yi-hyun-seok ignored it completely, addressing Jaejeong.
"Starting tomorrow, everything in the safe zone changes. Let's walk and talk. The rest of you are welcome to join."
Under Park Yi-hyun-seok's guidance, Youngman, Hyun-soo, and Anna followed along.
Moments later, the group crossed the road into the production zone.
"We've been making all sorts of efforts here to grow a variety of crops. Production's up, and so's the variety. That's why, as I mentioned, we can start communal meals tomorrow."
"Who's doing the cooking?"
Youngman asked.
"From what we've checked, a few survivors from the boundary zone have experience in that line of work. We'll center it on them, with production zone folks rotating in as extra hands."
Park Yi-hyun-seok said, pointing to workers tending the expanded fields.
With more living space and a taste of normal life, everyone's faces brightened.
They'd lived in apartments before, but watching the boundary zone survivors had always felt uncomfortable deep down.
"People volunteering for kitchen duty?"
"Yes. More than you'd think. Most seemed thrilled to give back after feeling like they'd had it easy. Surprised me too."
The workers, overhearing, waved at the group.
"And as you saw on the way here, no more fences. No guards between zones either. Everyone can move freely around the safe zone now."
"Why the sudden change?"
"To be frank, the people's state of mind is different from when they were crammed into the streets around the outer wall. Back then, there was real risk—unintentional discrimination in housing, everything."
"For mutual safety, then."
"Exactly."
Next up was the riverside.
"This riverside park is back to its original purpose—a rest spot for safe zone residents anytime. With the expanded territory, you'll need to patrol the park and the nearby bridges thoroughly."
They kept walking, and soon the new outer wall came into view along the overpass.
It sliced neatly through the middle of Yeouido.
"No more boundary zone. Everyone newly assigned housing—anyone not in production—will work shifts inspecting and repairing this outer wall."
Crash!
A sharp burst of shattering glass echoed from the commercial district.
Soldiers were forcing open locked shop doors up and down the street.
Jaejeong asked,
"What's that about?"
"We're sharing all goods now. Communal ownership, not personal. Locked shops get broken into like that. Take what you need."
"Won't run out fast?"
"Don't worry. The important stuff's guarded."
Park Yi-hyun-seok pointed to soldiers at the mart entrance.
They'd parked a military truck and stood guard in pairs.
"The whole mart's our big warehouse now. No need to move all that rice and essentials. Write down what you need, sign, and take it. Limited quantities and periods, of course. Check it out later."
"What about the other half of Yeouido?"
Anna, who'd been quiet, asked while eyeing the outer wall.
"We'll see once we coordinate timing. Stabilizing things here comes first. After everyone adjusts."
"What I'm saying is... you should tell people the plans ahead of time. Why make us wait without a word? You've gotta have a roadmap—at least six months or a year."
"Is that really important?"
Park Yi-hyun-seok asked, face full of incomprehension.
Anna looked exasperated.
"Of course it is. You might have it all in your head, but the rest don't. Are we stuck here forever? What after securing Yeouido? This is just our country right now."
Passersby stopped to listen as Anna spoke.
She didn't stop.
"Power could cut again, gas who knows how long. Plenty to worry about. Before, it was day-to-day crisis mode. Not anymore. I'm not complaining—everyone's gonna wonder soon. Or already is."
Youngman nodded at Jaejeong as he listened.
He'd been thinking the same but never considered voicing it publicly.
The survivors' reactions during housing assignments said it all.
Even something they should've had from the start filled them with barely concealed anxiety.
He feared stirring trouble by bringing it up needlessly.
"...We'll consider it."
Park Yi-hyun-seok didn't hide his unease.
Then—
Boom!
A massive roar echoed from somewhere.
Everyone jumped, scanning around, but couldn't pinpoint it.
"What the hell was that?"
Hyun-soo said, flustered.
And then...
Whoosh!
A chilling rustle swept through the nearby trees, like a fierce gust.
Crack!
Something caught Jaejeong's eye as he looked around.
The asphalt road along the riverbank was splintering like dry branches.
At the same time, a sound like falling shells hit, and the whole world began to shake.
'Earthquake?'
He'd been through one before.
Long ago, but the memory burned clear in his mind.
But an earthquake—in the heart of Seoul? That hit harder.
Pop! Pop!
Windows in nearby buildings exploded outward.
The soldiers guarding the mart rushed into the intersection.
"Look over there!"
In the chaos, Hyun-soo's urgent shout drew eyes to the river.
The Han River was overflowing.
Like water sloshing in a glass, waves surged toward both banks, receding and crashing back.
Survivors lounging riverside fled to the road to escape the flood.
Park Yi-hyun-seok adjusted his glasses and spotted the tower.
It swayed wildly, tracing drunken curves like someone salsa dancing.
How much time passed?
The world fell silent again, as if nothing had happened.
Jaejeong, Youngman, Anna, Hyun-soo, Park Yi-hyun-seok.
All frozen, faces etched with dread.
They eyed each other warily until Jaejeong exhaled the breath he'd held.
"Wait— the outer wall! Check the wall first!"
The wall flashing in his mind, Jaejeong bolted with the soldiers at the intersection.
The others followed suit.
Thankfully, no collapses.
Jaejeong and the soldiers caught their breath in relief.
Honk! Honk!
Military trucks appeared from streets everywhere, horns blaring.
Everyone had the same idea.
Some trucks crept along the wall, checking for cracks or gaps.
Once safety was confirmed everywhere.
Park Yi-hyun-seok, suddenly remembering something, climbed into a truck's passenger seat.
"To the tower! Hurry!"
The startled driver floored it, peeling off the road.
"What's his deal?"
Anna asked, puzzled. Youngman smoothed his tousled hair.
"Heard he has a young son. Probably that."
"Ah..."
"Even the smartest lose it over family. Tower shook like it was dancing—no wonder. Hope it's nothing."
Youngman stood still after speaking, a nagging unease settling in.
His face shifted to one of forgotten worry, then he bolted like a spooked horse.
"Hey! Driver! To the tower, now!"
A truck about to start rushed to pick him up and sped toward the tower.
"Must be Minyoung unnie."
Hyun-soo said to Anna, watching him go.
Anna gave a hollow smile.
"What the hell."
"Why?"
"It's weird. Wasn't like that at first, talking like it was someone else's problem, then bam. Scared me too."
But Anna's expression turned strange too.
Mouth agape, eyes widening, she sprinted off somewhere.
"What's her deal now?"
"Gaon, probably."
Jaejeong lit a cigarette and replied.
"Ah, Gaon."
"You got no one? Don't bolt off surprised—speak up first."
"Me? Nah. Beom-sik hyung's a grown man. Probably fine on his own. Man, wish I had someone to protect. At least with hyung, we're together like..."
When Hyun-soo turned back to Jaejeong, all that remained was a cigarette rolling on the ground, smoldering away.
Infected People